Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye would continue to defend its maritime jurisdiction rights and national interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, urging those seeking to exclude Ankara from the region to respect the “joint will” of Türkiye and Libya.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Monday, Erdoğan said Türkiye was not seeking to compete with other countries but was focused on protecting its rights and interests in maritime jurisdiction areas.

“We are not, so to speak, trying to score against anyone in the Eastern Mediterranean. We are only concerned with protecting our rights and interests regarding maritime jurisdiction areas,” he said.

Erdoğan’s remarks came days after Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives approved the 2019 maritime jurisdiction agreement between Türkiye and Libya, a development Ankara views as significant for its regional maritime interests.

The Turkish president also criticized efforts to exclude Türkiye from the Eastern Mediterranean, reiterating that regional actors should respect the agreement between the two countries. He said he considered the changing positions of Turkish politicians who had previously criticized the agreement a positive development for the future of Turkish foreign policy.

Erdoğan calls for end to divisions in Libya

Erdoğan stressed that Ankara wanted to see Libya overcome its internal divisions, extending his call for unity to other Muslim countries.

“Türkiye no longer wants to see division or discord in Libya or any other Muslim country,” he said, expressing hope that this goal would become a reality.

He also emphasized that maintaining domestic peace and stability would become increasingly important amid global developments.

“Our sole compass in both politics and foreign policy is Türkiye’s interests,” Erdoğan said, adding that his government would not hesitate to take what it considered the right course for Türkiye and the Turkish people, even if doing so carried a cost.

Türkiye seeks to ease regional tensions

Addressing wider regional conflicts, Erdoğan said Türkiye was working to reduce tensions, alleviate suffering and stop bloodshed.

He said Ankara was making efforts through all available means to contain violence and opposed those who, in his words, were fueling regional conflicts through expansionist ambitions.

Erdoğan added that Türkiye believed unity and solidarity were essential to achieving peace, security and prosperity, while emphasizing the importance of reducing disputes and strengthening cooperation across the region.

2027 budget and social welfare

Turning to domestic policy, Erdoğan said the government’s 2027 budget was designed to prioritize social welfare and justice while strengthening Türkiye’s productive capacity and competitiveness.

He said the budget would seek to make the economy more resilient to external shocks.

Erdoğan also said the government was working to provide financial resources to improve the situation of retirees, expressing hope that the relevant legal arrangements could be implemented by the end of the year, subject to the Turkish parliament’s consideration.

Turkic states summit

Erdoğan also highlighted the upcoming 13th summit of the Organization of Turkic States, scheduled to take place in Ankara on October 29-30 under the theme “Turkic Century: Unity in Language, Thought and Deed.”

He said Turkic countries should stand together against efforts to undermine their ties, stressing the importance of solidarity and cooperation among the nations of the Turkic world.

The summit is expected to address cooperation in areas including trade, investment, transport, energy, digital transformation and cultural relations. Türkiye is also expected to assume the organization’s rotating chairmanship from Azerbaijan. (ILKHA)